Friday, November 4, 2011

From half a million for the ruble to 10 million for 50 cents. Came expensive numismatic auction lots of spring in Moscow.

1) 50 cents in 1929 - 10 million rubles

There are coins which represent a solid mystery. After the collapse of the NEP the Soviet government conceived the idea to go to the minting of copper-nickel coins instead of silver. Silver - Monetary metal - required to meet the needs of industrialization. That citizens do not hoard silver change, reform was prepared in secret (in the surviving documents is marked "top secret"). In 1931, the Soviet Union appeared to use copper-nickel 10, 15 and 20 cents. Coins of 1 ruble and 50 kopecks, it was decided no mint. In the archives of the Leningrad Mint stamp tool is preserved sample of 10 and 50 cents, but a single sample of the coins themselves. However, several years ago in a private collection showed the coin - the only known instance of a test today on coinage in 1929. In May 2011, at auction, "Znak" was sold to a buyer who made a bet over the phone for 10 million rubles. This is a record price for Russia or the Soviet coin over the last three years.

2) 12 rubles in 1836 - 4.65 million rubles

The Russian Empire was the only country that are available for the treatment of platinum coins. Platinum 3, 6 and 12 rubles were minted from 1828 to 1845 years of fairly large print runs, a few thousand units per year. But the coin some years known in a few instances - presumably, they struck in the second half of the XIX century, commissioned by wealthy collectors. For example, 12 of rubles from the date of 1836 was issued only eleven. At the auctions, they appear very rarely, and always grow in value. Thus, in December 2010 at the British auction house Bonhams auction 12 rubles in 1836, "left" for $ 96 000 (about 3 million). And last April, the same coin at an auction of the Moscow company "Coins and Medals," has sold over 4.65 million rubles.

3) 25 rubles in 1908 - 1.9 million rubles

At the beginning of the XX century in Siberia on imperial mines was found five-kilogram gold nugget. Nicholas II wanted to make him a coin for gifts to relatives and close on the occasion of its 40th anniversary in 1908. Nugget was enough for 150 gold. Later, by order of Grand Duke George Mikhailovich, a passionate collector, has been coined yet 25 of these coins. 25 rubles in 1908 are very rare, however, over the past year and a half they were exhibited at the Russian and foreign auctions five times. In April 2011, at auction, "Imperiya" 25-Ruble is not a better safety - with Nick and scratches - sold for $ 1.9 million. In excellent condition, no damage, it would cost twice as much.

4) 5 cents in 1916 - 1.6 million rubles

Trial coins with the date 1916 - the last witnesses and failed monetary reform in the Russian Empire. During World War II, the purchasing power of the ruble dropped significantly, from the market began to disappear, settling in the "stash", as silver and copper detail. Copper coins of the new model (1,2,3 and 5 cents) was supposed to do twice as light ones that were in circulation. The Revolution had buried the project. How many were made "probes" - unknown. In 1927 the Leningrad Mint minted authentic stamps for a number of these coins for sale to collectors. However, they are still considered rare. In April of this year, 5 cents of the test series in 1916 were sold at auction "Coins and Medals" for $ 1.6 million. In autumn 2010, exactly the same patch of "retired" from the auction for $ 1.3 million.

5) 1 ruble in 1806 - 1.55 million rubles

Emperor Alexander I, who ascended the throne, for unknown reasons, abandoned the minting of coins with his portrait. Not that he did not like your own profile - known award medals to the same portraits of the monarch, and that on the test rublevikah. But they remained tentative. In the middle of the XIX century, the St. Petersburg Mint produced for private orders Novodels these coins are a few varieties (according to the documents - at least 30 pieces). One of them - with a portrait of Alexander I in the Guards uniform, and an eagle on the back - at the last auction, "Coins and Medals," "out" for 1.55 million rubles. If the seller bought the coin before the crisis, it miscalculated badly. In 2007, the price for such a "probe" reached up to 2 million rubles.

6) 1 ruble in 1705 - 1.5 million rubles

Before the 1730s, when rich mines were discovered in the Altai Mountains, Russia did not have a silver - coins were minted from imported metal. In 1704 at the initiative of Peter I in Moscow began to produce silver rubles on the model of Western European thalers. These coins as raw material for minting. The first time they do not happen to melted down, and immediately sent to the press. At the auction, "Coins and Medals" exhibited an interesting instance of the ruble - coin in 1705, the Polish overstruck thalers in 1630 (with an error in writing the new date - a rare type of postmark). Its price in the bidding rose to 1.5 million rubles, while the ruble of the same year the usual stamping was sold for $ 400 000.

7) 1 ruble in 1861 - 1.4 million rubles

Numismatists, as well as any collectors appreciate the preservation of what is collected. Perfect condition coins - proof, the first impression of the stamp on the polished billet - in itself is a rarity. Ruble in 1861 at the April auction proof "Russian numismatic house" was sold for $ 1.4 million. The buyer pays for a unique state of the coin. Rubles in 1861, was coined more than 70 000 units, in a state of proof - very few. The last time this coin was exposed to an authoritative German Gorny & Mosch auction in 2005. Someone could buy it for only € 5250 (about 180 000). Collectors again leave good money at auction. In April and May this year, five of the Moscow auction firms - "Coins and Medals," "Znak," "Alexander", "Russian numismatic House" and "Imperiya" - coins sold about 140 million rubles. Economic crisis has adjusted prices for numismatic market. According to the director and co-owner of the firm "Coins and Medals" by Igor Lavruka, while bargain has not yet passed. However, for some coins on auction may be a struggle, as a result of the price well above the estimate. The owner of the company "Znak" Ilya Goryanov also notes that prices for many collectible coins has been slow. True, it concerns a relatively simple, common objects - ranging from a few thousand to several tens of thousand rubles for the coin. The prices for rarities returned to pre-crisis level. Lavruk says, the market there is a shortage of rare coins. Goryanov adds that now trades on the "run the show" collectors who need things in excellent condition and very rare.